December 2022, Week 3

*Today at church I had a lot of conversations with friends, because it is my birthday!  I am very fortunate to have a church family support system.  I'm not great at going out to meet people, but there are opportunities all around me at church to make friends, especially when we serve together.

*Today a youth shared how we can make room for Christ in our lives by doing the little things each day, and she challenged us to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the next year.  A sister shared her testimony about how Mary and Elizabeth knew of the missions of their children and were therefore willing to take on the responsibility of raising them to be ready to fulfill them.  A brother bore his witness that the temple is the house of the Lord and where we can find peace.  He said his cheeks hurt after working there one day, and he finally realized it was because he had been smiling all day while there. He said he didn't know he didn't smile that much while he wasn't there. I was able to go to the temple this week to do initiatories, and I agree that it does bring peace and happiness.  Oh, he also shared how one day, when he had some free time during his temple shift, he went to the Celestial Room to pray.  While he was there, a sister in the room began to cry, and then to really sob.  He said he began to pray that someone would help this lady out.  No one did.  She just kept crying.  He eventually had to get back to his work, so he got up, and on his way out, he felt he should put his hand on the sobbing woman's shoulder.  He said her crying slowed down, until she stopped and let out a big sigh.  He let go of her shoulder and exited the room.  He never saw her face, as her hands had been covering it, and she never saw him, but she was calmed.  He realized that he had been praying for someone to help the lady, and the whole time the Lord was asking him to be the one to do it.  It reminded me of the lesson that I realized this week.  I often pray for the ability to recognize and act upon promptings in my life.  I had an opportunity this week, but I did not want to do this thing.  The Lord needs us to help his children--ALL of them, including the sobbing ones and also the "difficult" old ladies who you haven't actually met but you think probably would not be a good fit for your book club but who ask for a ride even though it's 25 minutes away from your home, and you can't ignore that the Lord wants you to move forward, and so you do, and it was sometimes awkward, but it can't be denied that she had a good time.  And you did, too.

*Here is another song from the Christian radio station, called "Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah)," by We the Kingdom.  Look it up and listen to it if you get the chance.

Light of the world, treasure of Heaven
Brilliant like the stars, in the wintery sky
Joy of the Father, reach through the darkness
Shine across the earth, send the shadows to flight
Light of the world, from the beginning
The tragedies of time, were no match for Your love
From great heights of glory, You saw my story
God, You entered in, and became one of us

Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah for the things He has done
Come and adore Him, bow down before Him
Sing hallelujah to the light of the world

Light of the world, crown in a manger
Born for the Cross, to suffer, to save
High King of Heaven, death is the poorer
We are the richer, by the price that He paid, ohh

Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah for the things He has done
Come and adore Him, bow down before Him
Sing hallelujah to the light of the world
You're the light of the world
Light up the dark

Light of the world, soon will be coming
With fire in His eyes, He will ransom His own
Through clouds He will lead us, straight into glory
And there He shall reign, forevermore
Oh, forevermore

Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah
Sing hallelujah for the things He has done
Come and adore Him, bow down before Him
Sing hallelujah to the light of the world

The light of the world

It was a delightful Sabbath and birthday!

December 2022, Week 2

*Today at church Ben and I did a viola/mandolin duet of "What Child is This," while Gracie accompanied us.  It's not a traditional pairing of instruments, but it worked out, and many people were appreciative of the music.  I'm grateful for opportunities to share talents, even when it makes me so nervous, because it's a way for me to share my testimony.  "This, this is Christ the Lord--the babe, the Son of Mary."

*After church, Emma, Gracie, Caytie and I performed in the Stake Christmas choir performance.  It was an amazing experience, and angels came to magnify our efforts.  I like to listen to music, but participating in it is the way I feel the power of it the most.  We ended the performance with the Hallelujah Chorus.  I had held in my tears all throughout the night, but that grand song of praise ended that resolve.

*The organizers of the concert changed its name to the Light the World Musical Celebration, to go along with the Church's Light the World Christmas campaign.  I have been listening to the Christian radio music station this Christmas, and I found two songs about the Light of the World, and I'll share one this week and one next week, because I really like them.  This one is by Lauren Daigle, and is called "Light of the World."  Of course it's better to listen to it, but the lyrics are powerful on their own, too.

The world waits for a miracle
The heart longs for a little bit of hope
Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel
A child prays for peace on Earth
And she's calling out from a sea of hurt
Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel

And can you hear the angels singing

Glory to the light of the world
Glory, the light of the world is here

The drought breaks with the tears of a mother
A baby's cry is the sound of love
Come down, come down, Emmanuel
He is the song for the suffering
He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace has come
He has come, Emmanuel

Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
For all who wait
For all who hunger
For all who've prayed
For all who wonder
Behold your King
Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel

Glo-glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Glory to the light of the world
Behold your King
Behold Messiah
Emmanuel, Emmanuel

The world waits for the miracle
The heart longs for a little bit of hope
Oh come, oh come Emmanuel

It is a delight!

December 2022, Week 1

*Today at church I appreciated being able to fast, to partake of the sacrament, to listen to the testimonies that were born, to be able to substitute on the organ without major mishaps, and to be with my sweet Primary kids.  It is good to be part of a gathering of saints who are my friends and who inspire me. 

*Today's funny Sunbeam moment: my co-teacher drew a stick figure of Habakkuk on the chalkboard.  She asked if they knew who Habakkuk was.  They said no, but that he needed a face, so she added one.  Another girl said he needed a cook hat.  I didn't know what she was talking about, until I thought of how she heard his name: Haba"cook".  ☺ The Lord taught Habakkuk to have patience.  I hope he does with us, too!

It was a delight!

November 2022, Week 4

*Today at church my sweet husband was one of the speakers, and though he had to cut it shorter than he planned, he gave a beautiful testimony of how our Savior's Atonement can bring peace in hard times.  He shared about how when we were selling our home in Plano and the inspector found a lot of foundation issues that we had to pay to fix, and we had to use the money we were planning on using for our down payment on the new home we were building.  He said he had a lot of anxiety about this, because we were not sure how to come up with the money and we were going to be homeless.  He shared how he went to pray to find guidance, and he was directed to move forward.  He found a lot of peace in that, so we did, and at the closing of our first home, we were given a check from the equity we had accrued from a second mortgage that we had paid off and forgot about and didn't realize would provide any money.  It turned out to be the exact amount that we needed for our new home's down payment.  I'm grateful that he shared that.  I don't remember it as vividly as he does.  I had morning sickness from pregnancy and was trying to pack and figure out how to live in a hotel for five weeks before our new home was complete while caring for our four children and arranging to get the repairs made.  I left all the financial details to Ben, and I don't think I realized at the time what miracles were happening all around us.

*Today I shared the story of Jonah with my Sunbeams.  This is a well-known story, and the kids knew a lot of details already.  Jonah was complicated, but he did eventually do what he was asked to do.  I hope that I can, too, although hopefully with a better attitude.

It was a delight!

November 2022, Week 3

*Today before church my family and I were able to meet with our Bishop and talk with him about our tithing.  Then, after church, I was able to meet with a member of the Bishopric and then with a Stake Presidency member to renew my temple recommend.  I am grateful for opportunities to "bear my testimony" through answering questions in these situations.  I am blessed to be a believer.  I do question things, but it is easy for me to fall back on my beliefs, and on the circumstances that have led me to those beliefs.

*Speaking of being grateful, today at church I accompanied the choir on a rousing Thanksgiving song, based on the "simple gifts" tune.  I'm thankful my fingers cooperated.  I'm thankful to be able to be part of this group making beautiful music.

*We had awesome speakers today.  One of them is a sister I served with on the Stake Counsel, while she was the Stake Young Women's President and I was the Stake Primary President.  She moved with her daughter's family into our ward two years ago (?), just after a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer, which does not have a cure, but there are treatments, which work until they don't and then they try something new.  She was divorced when her three children were young and had to learn to be a working mom.  Her ex-husband committed suicide a year ago.  She said that she did not want to tell us all of these things because she wanted us to feel sorry for her, but to let us know how she has been able to find joy and gratitude in the middle of all of these really big trials.  One of the things she has found a lot of joy in is being a stay-at-home grandma, which she would not have been doing without her cancer diagnosis.  She gets to read to them and bathe them and love on them, and she delights in it.  She has also learned how the Lord speaks to her and guides her, and how to follow His promptings.  I admire her a lot.

It was a delight!